d while this report didn't specify how many people in the U.S. have HSV-1 specifically, according to the American Sexual Health Association, more than 50 percent of American adults have oral herpes. Yikes. The reason so many people have HSV-1 is because they're actually infected during childhood, often when they've come into close contact with a family member who has the disease.
So what can you do to protect yourself? People can shed the virus through their skin even if they don't have a blister—so remember: Always, always use protection during oral sex, don't share things like drinks with friends, and wash your hands frequently since you never know when you'll come into contact with someone who's infected.